Page 51 of Spirit Trials
“I wasn’t upset.”
“Do you make it a habit of lying to yourself often, or are you really just that unaware?” Harper asks.
I take a breath. “Okay, fine. I was upset.”
“See. Was that so hard?” Harper asks, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
I think about how to put into words the conversation we had. I want to share with them, but I also don’t want to break my own heart again. “I was just reminded of the task I have ahead of me, and that I can’t afford to be distracted.”
“Yeah, the prince could be a distraction,” Kinsley says.
“A hot one,” Harper adds. “Though he’s psychotic.”
I ignore that comment. “I have to win these trials.” There’s a desperation to my voice.
“Why?” Kinsley asks without any judgment in her voice.
“I need to win the money, so I can get back to my mom and brother and help them have a better life. Maybe move to a city. It wouldn’t be as grand as this, but it would be a city with protection and an easier life.” I’m instantly hit with regret assoon as the words are out of my mouth. “I’m sorry. That was heartless of me. You girls need the money even more than I do.”
Harper laughs, but there’s no warmth. “All the money in the world won’t help us, Farrah. You’re better off winning it. If our spirit animals don’t show, we’ll be right back where we started.”
Her words and hopelessness break my heart. “Well, that’s another reason I need to win then.”
“Why is that?” Kinsley asks curiously.
“So, I can become famous and maybe change this stupid rule about the banished.”
Chapter 28
“I don’t know if that will work, but it means a lot that you would even try,” Kinsley says.
“Don’t fill her head with nonsense, Kins,” Harper snaps. “It will never change. They’re too prejudiced against us; nobody’s going to change their minds. They live their perfect lives with their perfect spirit wolves in their perfect homes and never worry about safety or food to put on the table for their perfect children.” I want to make a wisecrack about how many times she used the word perfect, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Before I can apologize, she continues. “Do you know what it’s like to watch a little kid starve to death?”
I close my eyes. “Yes,” I whisper, but she doesn’t need to hear it. She’s dealing with her own grief right now. “Tell me what it’s like out there in the banished community?” I ask. And so they do. For hours, they tell me about the hardships, the struggles, the lack of education and necessary food, the unfairness. They tell me personal stories about family members and friends. By the time they both go quiet, my heart is nearly overwhelmed with sorrow. I want to help, but I don’t know how. I look back towards the house and wonder if I can influence Rysden to make changes. That would mean taking on the king, and I don’t know if he would do that.
I study the moon as I think about what I know of Rysden’s mom. For being queen, she’s certainly not visible in her role. I wonder at the kind of life she’s had to live. From what Rysden’s told me, I don’t think it’s been easy. I wish I could meet her. I wonder if she looks like either of her boys, or if they both have their father’s looks. Thinking of the king makes me angry.I wonder how he sleeps at night. I hope horribly. Harper and Kinsley’s stories make me wonder how somebody could be so cruel as to banish people to a life of starvation and struggle.
“Do you think we’ll freeze overnight?” Kinsley asks, and I can hear her teeth chattering.
“No. It's cold, but we’re not in danger of freezing. And actually, sleeping in the trees is better than the ground. They block the wind, and it keeps your body warmer than sleeping on the ground. The foliage can trap heat and keep it in for longer under here, keeping us warmer.”
It’s quiet a moment. “Was that supposed to be a lesson?” Harper asks dryly, and I can’t keep in my laugh.
“Sorry. I love the trees; they’re my happy place.”
Harper groans. “Why couldn’t a nice warm bed with a fireplace nearby be your happy place?”
I smile and lean my head against the tree. “You know if I had to be trapped out here all night, there’s no two people I’d rather be stuck out here with.
“Ah,” Kinsley says sweetly. “We’re honored, aren’t we Harper?”
“To death,” Harper says deadpan.
The conversation dies down after that. We all three took naps today, but I can’t forget that we just finished our trial. It’s going to take more than one nap to catch up on lost sleep and heal from our injuries. I put my head back and close my eyes and let my mind rest. I doze off and on for the next few hours. Eventually, the darkness around us begins to lighten, and I can start seeing details again. Kinsley meets my eyes. “Looks like you had a protector all night,” she says with a nod. I look down and see Shade camped out at the base of the tree. A warmth spreads through my chest.
“We made it through the night. Anybody ready to go inside?” I ask. I climb down and drop to the ground beside Shade. “Hey,Shade.” I reach out and tentatively run my hand through his fur. “Thanks for watching out for me.” Intelligent dark eyes meet mine. I give him one more pet and then stand. “Let’s go see what’s for breakfast.”
I lead the way inside. When I see the kitchen is empty, a giddiness fills me. I start pulling down bowls and finding the ingredients I want. “I’m going to make something for breakfast; why don’t you both go take a warm bath?”
